Police officers are heading to the streets in Brussels on Monday, as officers demand more support from the government over violence against cops.
The protest was announced by four police unions earlier this month after an officer was stabbed to death in Brussels, raising concerns about the security of their members.
Vincent Houssin, vice president of the police union VSOA, said that politicians have ignored the issue for too long. “For more than 20 years we have been addressing violence against the police, for more than 10 years we have been working on an action plan. It is about time that the government finally effectively worked on zero tolerance,” he said.
The demonstration started early on Monday morning, with thousands of participants expected to walk up to the Palace of Justice and ending at Rue de la Loi at 1 p.m, where they will meet Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, according to a union representative.
The protest comes one day after Morocco’s unexpected win against Belgium in the World Cup triggered rioting and clashes between Moroccan supporters and police in several Belgium cities, including Brussels. Houssin said after the incident Sunday that the situation is going from “bad to worse.”
Annelies Verlinden could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.